Renaturing
Small Ways to Wild the World
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Canongate Books
Publishing:13th Mar '25
£18.99
This title is due to be published on 13th March, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
Twenty years ago, James Canton moved from London to the English countryside. Behind his farm labourer's cottage was a small field with a 'for sale' sign. At first it was a site for family picnics and cricket matches with friends, but James knew that the two-acre patch of earth held more potential - as a place for nature to return and flourish.
Here is the story of how, over a number of years, he undertook a project to 'rewild' the field: digging a pond, forging meadowlands, creating habitats for birds and insects, encouraging flowers and plants that support pollinators and wildlife. Eventually what was once just a grassy space was again buzzing with life.
The process raised some interesting questions. Rewilding is about bringing a large landscape back to a natural, self-sustaining state. But that wasn't possible on the scale of a field, a garden or a window box. What if we rethought the term? What if we aimed for 'renaturing' instead? Even on the smallest of scales we can create habitats to support a greater diversity of nature. A single window box planted with pollinator-friendly flowers can provide a mini-habitat to support honeybees; a tower block with a window box on every balcony becomes an acre of bee-friendly ecosystem.
Renaturing shows how the concept of rewilding can be adopted by us all. We can all make positive change, however large or small. We can all be involved in caring for and restoring the natural world.
A wry and open-minded interrogation of human interventions in the landscape -- RICHARD MABEY
A balm for any nature-lover feeling bruised by the state of the world, Renaturing provides a meditative, practical and beautifully-observed account of restoring a small yet significant patch of land. Canton takes us with him on a journey of learning that offers plenty to any reader, whether steeped in the lore of rewilding and ecology or a newcomer curious to know more about the positive roles that humans can play in nature -- CHANTAL LYONS
Renaturing presents an important, heartfelt message that there are things that we can all do to improve the current and evermore concerning state of nature. In his admirable endeavour to renature his field, James's undertaking and wider enquiry unfolds with refreshing sincerity: all the workings are laid bare, the wisdoms accumulated one by one. The reader learns as he learns, in a steady pace befitting of a book concerned with the observation of - and keen engagement with - wild nature. It is a book appealingly relatable in its content and deeply encouraging in its outlook. Enjoyable start to finish -- MATT COLLINS
Looking both forwards and backwards, this book is a timely meeting between ancient practice and latest thinking, offering a valuable companion for anyone wanting to "bring nature back". Renaturing is for people who don't necessarily have large estates to 'rewild' but do want to fight on nature's side, for bio-recovery -- JULIAN PERRY
Praise for James Canton: 'Canton's writing has an exquisite, somewhat dreamlike quality -- PETER WOHLLEBEN
Through [James Canton's] eyes we see the magic of discovery * * Mail on Sunday * *
James Canton knows so much, writes so well and understands so deeply -- SARA MAITLAND
Canton is an acute, gentle, companionable and elegiac guide -- CHARLES FOSTER
Canton, like Robert Macfarlane and others, engages friends and experts, fostering credibility but also a sense of gentle companionship * * Countryfile * *
ISBN: 9781837260393
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
256 pages
Main